Ask The Right Question (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In this first chapter, we look at a number of real-life situations and conversations from two perspectives: conversations that go badly and ones that go..." (more)
Key Phrases: assertive pause, aggressive listening, problem holder (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Crammed with practical suggestions for improving the way you communicate..."--John Cotton, Director, Group Human Resources, Barclays pic.

Internationally known management consultant Rupert Eales-White reveals his foolproof approach to managing work relationships, using the science of effective questioning for workers at all levels.

From the Back Cover

"Crammed with practical suggestions for improving the way you communicate..."--John Cotton, Director, Group Human Resources, Barclays pic.

Effective Communication At Your fingertips. It sounds deceptively simple, but it's one of the success secrets of effective leaders worldwide: In any interaction, asking the right questions can transform key business relationships, improve crucial communication skills, and make things happen your way. In this indispensable guide to better communication, internationally known management consultant Rupert Eales-White reveals his foolproof approach to managing work relationships, using the science of effective questioning. Based on his popular seminar, Ask the Right Question! provides dozens of tips and techniques in the art of framing questions that will produce the information you need in order to: Seize opportunities; Reduce resistance; Bridge gaps in perception; Meet your goals; Encourage mutuality; Create partnerships. Whether you are a corproate officer, a manager, or just getting on the fast track. Ask the Right Question! is the answer to meeting your skill, relationship, and career needs.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070187223
• ISBN-13: 978-0070187221
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,044,192 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to get "What you want everytime", December 3, 1999

By A Customer

Finally, a guide that provides valuable information that can be utilized in both your professional and personal life. ...you can start on the road to effective and successful communication techniques by "Asking the Right Question." Rupert Eales-White takes you through a journey of real life situations and demonstrates what seems to be a very simple and logical technique to handle almost any type of situation. Rupert Eales-White illustrates conversations that are ineffective and effective by using open-end and closed questions between a mother and teenage daughter, manager and subordinate. He shows that using the right approach, attitude, and effective listening skills will help maintain a quality conversation. He states "If we can identify poor listening in ourselves, we can improve. If we identify poor listening in others, we can rectify the situation." If you don't have good listening skills you won't be able to ask good questions or the right ones. Who knew that there is a madness to asking the right question. Rupert Eales-White proves those thinking questions through and good practice will provide you with positive results every time. Through the strategies and techniques demonstrated in this guide it will become a way of life for you. There is no doubt that using this guide will only get you what you want in any situation. Your communication skills will improve and soon your personal relationships will only blossom, your working relationships will be enhanced and you will get the confidence to meet any goals that you had been prolonging. Rupert Eales-White, "Ask The Right Question! How to Get What You Want Every Time and in Any Situation" is highly recommended and should be on your "Must Read" list.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read!, February 16, 2001

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Author Rupert Eales-White emphasizes the importance of using active listening, focusing on a particular subject, and asking good open-ended questions to get productive results from interviews and conversations. He mixes a few examples with specific how-to principles outlining ways to structure effective conversations. This generally solid book has the feel of a textbook. Some readers may find it too structured or basic, since the author breaks down conversations into sentences with some detail. The book's approach may be more appropriate in organizational cultures where people prefer a focused style of questioning. Those who prefer a more informal, casual conversational style may find his approach less suitable. We at getAbstract.com recommend this book to human resource professionals, to those facing critical interviews, and to those who wish to think strategically about their conversational, information-gathering, or persuasive skills.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Improving Communication Skills, December 2, 1999

By	Melisa Davis (Niceville, Fl) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Ask the Right Question! How to Get What You Want Every Time and In Any Situation" is an easy to read as well as enlightening book. It produces factual events, dialogues and explains what is effective or ineffective in how conversations are presented. Rupert Eales-White starts his book establishing that a good conversation is a planned conversation. If a person knows what their goal is in the conversation, they can ensure that the question is geared to achieving that goal. He points out that people must consciously and deliberately focus on the other person to know what to ask, when, and how often. His do's and don'ts on effective questioning are especially helpful. Demonstrates how to be effectively persuasive by setting up key strategies and exemplifying them in conversation. Dynamically coaches the reader on how to reach mutuality of people with different views and goals. Illustrates how to deal with conflict and provides tools to assist the reader in resolution of the conflicts. There are diagrams on how to set up an effective meeting, by careful planning, order, and understanding needs and common ground. An especially informative section was how to develop relationships. Focusing on how to talk to a boss, how a boss should talk with a subordinate, how to conduct an interview, and how to delight your client. Introducing you to the "discover kings" what, why, and how to generate open dialogues, resolve issues, solve problems, or seize opportunities. Offers tips on how to become more creative while harnessing the power of group discovery. Using a simple and concise style of showing the normal way in which most conversations go with a teenager, to asking the right kind of open question in order to elicit a response that is thought out. The open question being the key. The author focuses on teaching effective questioning skills as the key to improved communications and persuasion in many situations. Listening skills, context and concept development and approach formation are also reviewed for their benefits in achieving optimal communications. Suggestions are written in easy to read format that most people will be comfortable using, with many easy to understand examples or situations most of which we can relate a similar situation to. I highly recommend "Ask The Right Question - How to Get What You Want Every Time and In Any Situation" to everyone. Even if you think you communicate very well, I am sure there is still something beneficial to be learned from this book.